Charging machine



Jan. 7, .1930. A. J. CLAUSEN CHARGING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22'. 1926 2Sheets-Sheet Jan. 7, 1930. A. J. CLAUSEN 1,742,494

CHARGING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1926 2 Sheets- Sheet 2r v 'm yew meANDREW J.' CLAUSE/Y ekavfimzaw HAS A TTOE/YEK Patented Jan. 7, 1930UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANDREW .1. cLAUsEN, or sex rmcrsco,CALIFORNIA, assrenon T 'nmncnAL- CLAUSEN me. 00., or OAKLAND, cum-01mm,A coranrnnnsmr consrs'rmo or vrcron L. MARSHAL AND amnmw J. cnaosrmCHARGING MACHINE Application filed December 22, 1926. Serial No.156,278.

. to stresses of great magnitude and must frequently operate underconditions in which room for maneuvering is limited, it is alsoan objectto provide a compact mechanism, with.

low center of gravity when loaded and which can be handled in restrictedspaces.

Other objects and valuable features, together with the foregoing will beset forth in the following description of the inventionwhich isillustrated in the drawings accom panying and forming part of thespecification. It is to be understood however that I do not limit myselfto the showing made by the said description and drawings,-as I may adoptvariations of my preferred form within the scope of my invention as 'setforth in the so claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l'is a side elevation, the scoop-being shown at different pointson its path of movement by means of dash and dot lines.

Figure 2 is a perspective skeleton view of the various controls. thefoot control operating the hopper gate being omitted.

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the construction of the guide forthe roller attached to the end of the lower scoop arm. The plane ofsection is indicated in Figure 1 by the line 3-3. '7

Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the power transmission shafting andgearing and their associated parts, including the tractor track. Theplane of section is indicated by the line 44 of Figure 1.

Broadly considered In invention comprises a self propelling ve 'clepreferably of 50 the track-laying tractor type to the frame of thecradle is a scoop which in the lower posiadjacent the hopper and thescoop tipped upwhich are fixedupright standards for supporting aslantbottomed hopper. Pivotally connected to the vehicle frame on each sideadjacent thebase of the standards are two arms, the outer ends of whichare pivotally connected to a cradle, adapted in the lower nosition ofthe arms to rest in nearly vertical position against a thrust head fixedon the frame of the vehicle. Pivotally connected to 80 tion of thecradle lies substantially on the ground so that with movement of thevehicle it may be thrust under the material awaiting handling; thestresses of such loading being carried by the thrust head. A cablesuitably fastened to the scoop on-each side passes over a sheave nearthe top of each standard'and around a narrow spool; and means areprovided for connecting the prime mover of the vehicle to propel it ineither direction and to turn it, and also to rotate the spools so as towind up the cables to lift the scoop from its loading position towardthe upper end of the hopper in which is a charging opening. During theinitial movement of the scoop, it and the cradle move asone upon thepivotally connected arms, the connection of the cables being at a pointto insure this, but as the cradle nears the limit of its upwardmovement, it is caught by a latch and the continued pull of the cableslifts the scoop from the cradle, turning it on its pivot, so that theparts come to rest in their upper or discharge position, with the upperedge of the cradle wardly and toward the hopper to permit its lead todischarge by, gravity into the hopper. When tension on the cables isreleased the scoop falls back on the cradle, releasing the latch.'Scoop, cradle and supporting arms then sink back to loading positionadjacent the ground, means being provided to control this recoverymovement. Means are also provided for controlling the discharge of mate:rial from the hopper. 9 All of the controls are handily arrangedadjacent the seat of the driver, who alone operates the maehine. One oftheehief uses of the machine is that of connecting unit between theconcrete mixer and the material supply in highway construction. W hen soemployed one machine replaces many laborel's with wheelbarrows, and hasbeen found to be the fastest, most dependable and cheapest method ofkeeping aggregate in measured quantities moving steadily from the pilesto the mixer. The machine also has other uses in engineering works. oneof the chief of these being that of a truck loader.

Considered in detail, the machine of my invention includes aself-propelling vehicle of the track-laying tractor type comprising avehicle frame 2, mounted on the axles 3 and 4 carrying the sprockets 6and 7. The sprockets are surrounded by the usual track 8 which may be ofany desired construction and which is supported between the sprockets onthe wheels 9 carried on the frame in accordance with well knownpractice.

Journaled upon the fixed axle 4, as shown in Figure 4, are the sleeves10 on the outer end of each of which, the sprocket 7 is formed and onthe inner end of which is keyed the brake drum 11, which also carriesthe gear 12 of the driver.

in mesh with the pinions 13 journaled on the spider 14, jonrnaled on theshaft 4 between the two brake drums. The spider 14 is provided with agear 16 in mesh with the driving pinion 17, the structure just explainedthus comprising a differential drive for the sprockets 7 Surrounding thebrake drums are brake bands 18 and 19 respectively, best shown in Figure2. The brake band 18 is connected by the lever arm 21 and the connectingrod 22 with the pedal 23; and the brake band 19 is connected by thelever arm- 24, connecting rod 26, and rod 27 with the pedal 28. Both thepedals are arranged convenient to the seat 29 in which the operatorsits. Thus the pedals 23 and 28 provide means for steeringthe vehiclethru the control of the differential gears 12.

The driving pinion 17 is fixed upon the shaft. 30 journaled in suitablebearings 31 arranged on the frame of the vehicle, and on the ends of theshaft are keyed the gears 32 and 33. The gear 32 is in mesh with thegear 34, rigid with the clutch element 36 and together journaled on theshaft 37 to which is fixed the other clutch element- 38 controlled bythe shift collar 39 which is 'operatively connected with the yoke 41fixed on the end of the control rod 42. The control rod connected thruthe lever 43 and link 44 with the lever 46 arranged adjacent the seatAlso fixed on the shaft 37 is the gear 47 in mesh with the driving gear48 arranged on the end of the propeller shaft 49. The propeller shaft isdriven by the internal combustion engine 51in accordance with the usualpractice. The gear 33 is in mesh with the gear 52, which like the gear34 is also rigid with the clutch element 53, bothbeing loose upon theshaft 54 similar to shaft 37, and to which is fixed the other clutchelement 56 controlled by the shift collar 57 operated by the yoke 58also fixed on the control rod 42. The inner end of the shaft 54 alsocarries a gear 59 which like its companion gear 47 is in mesh with thedriving gear 48, but on the opposite side from the gear 47, so thatrotation of the gear 48 drives the gears 47 and 59 and therefore theirrespective shafts 37 and 54 in the opposite direction. The proportionand arrangement of the clutches is such that when the clutch elements 36and 38 are engaged on one side to connect the shaft 37 with the shaft 30thru the gears 32 and 34, the clutch elements and 56 are disengaged sothat the gear with its clutch element 53 idleson the shaft 54. \Vithmovement of the control lever to neutral position. the clutch elements.36 and 38 are disengaged. Vith further movement of the. control lever,the clutch elements 53 and 56 are engaged, and the driving connection isthrugear 59, shaft 54, clutch elements 53 and 56 and gears 52 and Thusthe direction of rotation of the driving pinion 17, and therefore thedirection of motion of the vehicle is controllable by the lever 46.There is thus provided a tracklaying tractor which is readily maneuveredin limited space.

Arranged rigidly 011 the-frame 2 of the tractor are two standards 61between which is arranged a hopper 62 with itscharging end 63 betweenthe upper portions of the standards. The hopper is preferably arrangedwith a sloping bottom to facilitate the discharge of its contents and atthe lower end is provided with a gate 64 normally returned to closedposition by the counterweight 66. The gate is kept closed under load bythe latch 67 fixed rigidly with the lever arms 68 and 69 on the pivotshaft 71. A spring 72 is secured to the arm 69 to resiliently retain thelatch in position and a rod 73 connects the arm 68 with a pedal '74adjacent the seat of the operator, thus providing means for the readyrelease of the gate and the dumping of the load. The hopper andstandards are rigidly braced upon the frame of the vehicle by thestructural members '76 and '77 and the hopper is so disposed that thecenter of gravity is kept as low as possible, while at the same time thedischarge end is high enough to permit the deposit of the load in atruck.

Means are provided for picking up measured quantities of material fromthe ground and depositing them in the hopper. Pivotally mounted upon theframe of the vehicle on each side, adjacent the base of the stand ardsand on the opposite side from the hopper are two arms '78 and 7 9. Attheir outer ends these arms are pivotall connected to a. cradle 81having flanged rol ers 82 adapting it to rest in substantially uprightposition against the thrust head comprising the structural elements 83rigidly fixed on the end of the vehicle frame. Preferably the thrusthead against the cradle in the direct-ion of the vehicle frame tends tomove the cradle downwardly in a slight degree. Preferably the arms 78are connected to the vehicle frame by fixed pivots 84, while each of thearms 79 is provided with a roller 85 mounted within a slideway 86 fixedon the frame member 87, so that the connection of the arms 79 to thevehicle frame is.both pivotal and slidable.

Disposed on the cradle is a scoop 91 preferably pivotally connectedto'the cradle by the pivot shaft 92- adjacent the upper portion of bothscoop and cradle, the lower portion of the scoop resting against theseat 93 on the cradle. The scoop is preferably of the open I top typewith bottom and back to facilitate loading by being thrust into thematerial. Connected to each side of the scoop by any suitable means is acable 94 'which passes upwardly over a sheave 96 arranged near the topof the standard on that side, thence downwardly to a spool or drum 97fixed on the end of the shaft 98, so that with rotation of the shaft thecables are wound up on the spools.

J ournaled on the shaft 98 is the clutch element 99 having the gear 101integral there-, with. The gear is in mesh with the pinion 102 fixed onthe shaft 103 which is connected by the chain lO l to thefshaft 54. Thusthe gear 101 and clutch element 99 run continuously with the propellershaft 49. Splined on the shaft 98 is the other clutch element 106, aboutwhich is disposed the brake band 107, controlled by nected by the link109 to the control lever 111. Arranged loosely on the shaft 98againstthe fixed collar 112 is the cam collar 113 having an arm 114thereon anchored to the fixed housing by a link including the turnbuckle116, so that by adjustment of the turn buckle, the cam collar may beadjusted. Interposed between the cam collar and the clutch element 106is a complementary cam collar 117 having an arm 118 connected by thelink 119 -to the lever arm 108. The proportion and arrangement of theseparts is such that movement of the control lever 111 in one directionturns the cam collar 117 to-press the clutch element 106 into engagementwith the clutch element 99 and. simultaneously releasethe brake band107, while movement of the control lever in the opposite directioneffects the recovery movement of the cam collar 117 to the positionfarthest to the right as seen in Figure 4 so as to release the clutchelements and simultaneously tightens the brake band 107. It will be seenfrom this then,- that the control lever 111 permits the operator to windup the cables 94: to raise the scoop and to control the unwinding of thespools when-the scoop is allowed to fall of its own weight.

' trol lever 111.

the lever arm 108 conpicked up. The

121, in which position it lies in the charging opening of the hopper sothat the load falls by gravity out of the scoop and into the hopper; Assoon as the scoop starts to tip upwardly off of the cradle, the latch122 is drawn by the spring 123 into engagement with the lug 124 holdingthe cradle in its upper position during the completion of the dumpingmovement of the scoop.' The clutch elements 99 and 106 are so adjustedas to their engagement by means of the turnbuckle 116 that slippage ofthe clutch occurs when the cradle and scoop have reached their highestposition, in the event the operator does not release the clutch atexactly the proper moment. After the load has been discharged from thescoop into the hopper, the weight of the scoop is sufficient to unwindthe cables from the spools, and as it settles back upon the cradle itstrikes an releases the latch 122 so that both scoop and cr le are thenfree to fall into loading position, the descending movement beingcontrolled by the suitable application of the brake band 107'thru con-The points of attachment of the cables 94 to the scoop are arranged withreference to the pivot 92,s0 that tension on the cables raises scoop,cradle and arms together, the lever arm tending to cause pivotalmovement of the scoop on the cradle gradually increasing as the cradlenears the top of its movement until finally as the cradle reaches itposition against the hopper,

the scoop is swung upwardly to dumping ward movement of the vehiclepushes the I scoo under the material lying loose in a; pile in out ofthe vehicle, the thrust being carried against the'thrust head 83 and thestresses being such as to hold the scoop down against the ground whilethe load is being for examplecrushed rock, is then raised and dumpedinto the hopper, and since the scoop is of predetermined capacity, thedesired numberof loads of crushed rock and of sand may be raised anddumped into the hopper in the desired proportions, the extremeflexibility of the vehicle permitting it to move from one supply pilectoanother as the need may scoop full of material, as

arise. Havingloaded a batch of aggregate in the desired proportions ofsand-and rock, the vehicle then proceeds to the concrete mixer where theload is dumped directly into the skip of the mixer. While the mixer isworking on this particular batch, the machine collects another load; Itis thus possible to keep close contact between the supply piles and themixer even over distances which would make it impracticable to transportthe materials by the usual wheelbarrows. It

' will be obvious, without a special discussion,

that my machincis suitable also for loading trucks with loose materialor material which involves only light digging and this is especiallytrue in excavations Where limited space or other conditions make itimpossible for trucks to approach close to the material to be handled.My machine is capable of operating within a very limited range andhaving loaded the hopper is then capable of ascending slopesimpracticable for the ordinary truck to dump the load.

' I claim:

1. A machine of the character described comprising a vehicle including aframe, a

thrust head on said frame, a cradle, arms for mounting the cradle on theframe and positionmg 1t agamst the thrust head or above the frame, ascoop mounted on the cradle, and

' means for raising the scoop and cradle from at its upper end to thecradle and abutting against the cradle at its lower end.

6. A machine of the character described comprisinga vehicle including aframe, a thrust head on said frame, a pair of arms pivotally mounted oneach side of said frame,

one arm of each pair being slidably pivotally connected to the frame, acradle pivotally connecting the outer ends of the arms and adapted tolie against the thrust head, and a scoop pivotally mounted on thecradle.

7. A machine of the character described comprising a vehicle including aframe, a thrust head extending downwardly and rearwardly on said frame,a cradle, rollers on said cradle for bearing against-said thrust head,arms for mounting said cradle on said frame and positioning it againstsaid thrust head or above the frame, and a scoop mounted on said cradle.

8. A machine of the character described comprising a vehicle including aframe, a thrust head extending downwardly and rearwardly on said frame,a cradle, rollers on said cradle for bearing against said thrust head, apair of arms pivotally connected to said cradle and said frame, a pairof arms pivotally connected to said cradle and pivotally and slidablyconnected to said frame, and scoop mounted on said cradle. J

' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ANDREW J. CLAUSEN.

3. A machine of the character described comprising a vehicle including aframe, a thrust head on said frame, a cradle, arms for mounting thecradle on the frame and positioning it against the thrust head or abovethe frame, a scoop pivoted adjacent its upper edge to the upper edge ofthecradle, and means for raising the scoop and cradle together from thethrust head to a position above the frame and for turning the scoop onits pivotal mounting to dumping position.

4. A machine of the character described comprising a vehicle including aframe, a thrust head on said frame, a pair of arms pivotally mounted oneach side of said frame, a cradle pivotally connecting the outer ends ofthe arms and adapted to lie against the thrust head, and a scooppivotally mounted on the cradle. j

'5. A machine of the character described 'comprising a vehicle includinga frame, a

thrust head on said frame, a pair. of arms pivotally mounted on eachside of said frame, a cradle pivotally connecting the outer ends of thearms and adapted to lie against the thrust head, and a scoop pivotallyconnected

